All about Amendment 2, the medical marijuana proposal approved in Missouri on Tuesday

Here are the results of key races and ballot measures of the Nov. 6 midterm election.
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Chip Sheppard, on the board of directors of New Approach Missouri, reads an update of encouraging news about Amendment 2 at the watch party at Riad in downtown Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo11: Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader)Buy Photo

Amendment 2 legalizes growing, manufacturing, selling and consuming marijuana and marijuana products for medicinal use at the state level. (Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law.)

Prospective patients and primary caregivers will soon be able to apply to the state for identification signaling they're able to receive and prescribe medical marijuana, respectively.

People wanting to grow, manufacture or sell marijuana products will apply for separate licenses.

Amendment 2 taxes marijuana sales to patients at 4 percent. Proceeds would fund veterans healthcare. Amendment 2 allows home-growing of marijuana: Patients could grow up to six plants; caretakers, up to 18.

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Amy Powell, left, and Ann Siegel, right, react to a win for Amendment 2 at the New Approach Missouri watch party at Riad in downtown Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader

Advocates for Amendment 2 celebrate after Chip Sheppard, board member of New Approach Missouri, declares them a winner during a watch party at Riad in downtown Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader

Advocates for Amendment 2 celebrate after Chip Sheppard, board member of New Approach Missouri, declares them a winner during a watch party at Riad in downtown Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader

Advocates for Amendment 2 celebrate after Chip Sheppard, board member of New Approach Missouri, declares them a winner during a watch party Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 at Riad in downtown Springfield. Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader

Chip Sheppard, on the board of directors of New Approach Missouri, reads an update of encouraging news about Amendment 2 at the watch party at Riad in downtown Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Dean Curtis/Special to the News-Leader

4. What do local law enforcement leaders say about all this?

In general, they're not fans.

In early September, Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said, "The Missouri Police Chiefs Association has consistently opposed the legalization of marijuana, and that position, which I as a member and past president support, has not changed."

Just before the election, Williams told journalist Heather Lewis with KOLR/Ozarks Fox that the Springfield Police Department itself does not take a position. "Our role is to enforce the laws put in place," said the chief. "Whether we agree or disagree, that's immaterial."

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott told Lewis "it'd be a huge thing" if Missouri voters pass medical marijuana. Like Springfield police, Arnott said his office has been studying the issue for some time.

Arnott said he attended a professional-conference talk given by a sheriff from Colorado. Voters in that state added medical marijuana in 2000, then added recreational marijuana 12 years later.

That state, Arnott said, has experienced unintended consequences as far as recreational pot use fueling an increase in driving under the influence, "theft and armed robbery" of grow operations, and other issues.

"It’s kind of a scary situation when you listen to a sheriff with experience with it," Arnott said.

Again, recreational marijuana use in the Show-Me State is not legal, and Amendment 2 did not make it legal.

5. Don't the feds have a thing or two to say about marijuana?

Gil Mobley, a physician with ties to both Springfield and Seattle, Washington, where medical marijuana is legal, has been in favor of medical marijuana for years.

He told the News-Leader Friday that large health systems can be "extremely" reluctant for their physicians to prescribe medical marijuana where it is legal. Reasons include the fact that marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law.

Often, patients are referred to independent physicians, he said.

"These oncologists are contacting me to (write a prescription) because they work for (a large Washington state health system)," Mobley said.